NEW YORK: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday (Friday in Manila) deplored the persistent lack of women in the world’s peace efforts, two decades after a Security Council resolution sought to boost such representation. Women lead only seven percent of countries, while men make up three-quarters of the membership of Covid-19 task forces, Guterres said. “Even as we improve the representation of women in UN mediation teams, they remain largely excluded from delegations to peace talks and negotiations,” Guterres said, pointing to diplomatic efforts on Afghanistan, Mali and Yemen. But diplomats said about 10 members of the 15-nation body including the United States and European powers were opposed, believing the Russian initiative rolls back previous achievements. If adopted, the text will “not only be the weakest resolution ever adopted by the Security Council on women, peace and security, it will erode the normative framework on issues that are core to… [that] agenda,” he continued, branding it regressive.

Source: Manila Times October 30, 2020 16:30 UTC